Kopitar vs Bergeron

[PB37]

I would expect you to disagree, Patrice, but it isn't purely the numbers, either. Kopitar hasn't had the supporting cast that you did for long stretches, either.

Bergeron already had two 70 point seasons before Marchand was even in the league.

 

[AvroArrow]

Kopitar was better offensively, while on par defensively. 2 cups > 1 cup. He also may be able to win another Selke.

The same way Bergeron had to deal with Datsyuk when it came to the Selke, Kopitar had to deal with Bergeron.

The way I see it, there isn't a defensive gap between them, but there is a visible offensive gap. Not a significant gap, but definitely a difference.

Defence - Bergeron 10/10
Defence - Kopitar 10/10
Offence - Bergeron 8/10
Offence - Kopitar 9/10

 

[Hockeyholic]

This is one of those polls where nobody is really off/wrong choosing either guy.

Personally, I thought Kopitar was a better postseason player. But Bergeron obviously prevented another of goals.

 

[Lt Dan]

If Kopitar played in the East he would be winning this by a landslide

 

[johnjm22]

Kopitar for sure has/will have the better career. 1200+ points and two Stanley Cups.

If someone wants to argue Bergeron is the better player, I will permit that.

 

[PB37]

Kopitar was better offensively, while on par defensively. 2 cups > 1 cup. He also may be able to win another Selke.

The same way Bergeron had to deal with Datsyuk when it came to the Selke, Kopitar had to deal with Bergeron.

The way I see it, there isn't a defensive gap between them

I don't see how that makes sense. Bergeron has been the clear #1 defensive center of his generation. Traditional stats, advanced metrics, voting, trophy wins backs that up. Kopitar has had some down years in his own end while Bergeron has been excellent for an unprecedented number of years in a row.

 

[Coffee]

The result shows you’re wrong

You’re correct..

1. Calm down.
2. Classless? If anything you disrespected Kopitar more than anyone here disrespected Bergeron with your comment that the poll should be closed because it wouldn’t be a contest.

3. Na na na na na na Kopitar is better.

In regards to number 2, correct. It was not needed what I said

 

[Midnight Judges]

I think Kopitar was a bit better. Don't care about the Selkes, Bergeron was the better defensive player and that's obvious...

Is it?

Kopitar's defensive playoff stats are off the charts. Like, friggin excellent.

For me it is Kopitar. He's better offensively more than Bergeron is better defensively and Kopitar has been -the man- in LA for so long through thick and thin. An absolute stud in LAs two Cup wins.

Assuming mean offensively "the man" because Drew Doughty is also the man over there.

 

[JackSlater]

Is it?

Kopitar's defensive playoff stats are off the charts. Like, friggin excellent.

Yeah. It's no slight to Kopitar, very good defensive player.

 

[Hippasus]

Another interesting thing about Bergeron is his resilience and adaptability. He missed nearly the entire season in his third or so possible NHL season. His first two seasons were amongst the best offensive seasons of his career. Then after he nearly misses a full season due to concussion problems, he reinvents himself and ends up becoming an elite two-way forward.

 

[unicornpig]

LOL at the ppl who think bergeron is better. once again east coast fans know nothing about hockey.

 

[David Suzuki]

Kopitar, not super close.

 

[Midnight Judges]

LOL at the ppl who think bergeron is better. once again east coast fans know nothing about hockey.

That's a pretty lame and enormous generalization.

I live just south of Washington DC, voted Kopitar.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Kopitar is bigger and more talented than Bergeron. I get Bergeron is the better pure defender but that doesn’t make up the gap for me. Kopi has been underrated for so long because he’s a Slovenian playing in LA vs a Canadian in Boston

 

[norrisnick]

Kopitar is bigger and more talented than Bergeron. I get Bergeron is the better pure defender but that doesn’t make up the gap for me. Kopi has been underrated for so long because he’s a Slovak playing in LA vs a Canadian in Boston

Wrong Slov...

Slovenian.

Fun fact, of all the points in NHL history scored by Slovenians... Anze has scored 99.65% of them.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Bergeron won Selkes but never once finished top 10 in goals, assists or pts, even though he was attached to Marchand and Pastrnak for the last 5+ years. Kopitar won the selke while finishing top 10 in pts. Has multiple top 10 assist finishes too. That's the best 2 way player. Kopitar has 2 cups with 2 playoff rosses, while Bergeron was barely a top 5 bruin for his cup win. The answer is Kopitar for better player and better career.

 

[bobholly39]

Kopitar was better offensively, while on par defensively. 2 cups > 1 cup. He also may be able to win another Selke.

The same way Bergeron had to deal with Datsyuk when it came to the Selke, Kopitar had to deal with Bergeron.

The way I see it, there isn't a defensive gap between them, but there is a visible offensive gap. Not a significant gap, but definitely a difference.

Defence - Bergeron 10/10
Defence - Kopitar 10/10
Offence - Bergeron 8/10
Offence - Kopitar 9/10

We're ranking overall careers, no? Maybe at his best Kopitar was quite good defensively, but for career:

Bergeron has 6 Selkes, 12 straight top 3 finishes and 14x in the top 5
Kopitar has 2 Selkes, 5x top 5, 6x top 5

Without digging too deep into defensive stats - this seems like a pretty big defensive edge to Bergeron. Unless you think Kopitar didn't get enough selke recognition, or that Bergeron's was unwarranted.

I agree on Kopitar having an edge offensively.

 

[Toby91ca]

Put Kopitar in Boston and Bergeron in LA over their entire careers. I have zero doubt Kopitar has more Selkes and has an even larger lead in total points playing the with the wingers and 1st power play unit the Bruins have been able to roll out in the past 7+ years when Bergeron went from 2-2.5 pts/60 to 3 pts/60. Bergeron is a first-ballot HHOFer, but Kopitar’s size and natural tools are just a slight step above. Totally here for an argument that Bergeron had a better career even if I disagree, but I strongly feel Kopitar’s output and playoff performances point to him being the better player by a small margin.

I think another way to look at this is in his absolute best years, I think you could’ve said Kopitar was a top 3 center. There was Sid, and then you could’ve argued him head-to-head versus anyone else in the league. He had a strong case for the Hart the year Hall won, and similarly for the Conn Smythe in 2014.

1) the notion of having them switch places and this is what you’ll see comments happen all the time and they are made as if fact. What is a fact is that you have no idea what would happen, maybe both end up being worse, no one really knows and we know is what each actually did.

2) you are clearly biased. Not an accusation, just a fact. Everyone has biases it’s just the way it goes…in this case, you are biased in Kopitars favour. I voted Bergeron for both and was going to say I’m not biased due to not being a fan or hater of either team or player, but perhaps I’m biased a bit due to recency with another Selke win and retirement. What I can say is there is not a ton of separation between the two.

Definitely Bergeron on both accounts.


Think of a new poll, because this ones ending fast

Didn’t or hasn’t turned out as you expected so far….looks to be pretty even split

 

[Coffee]

1) the notion of having them switch places and this is what you’ll see comments happen all the time and they are made as if fact. What is a fact is that you have no idea what would happen, maybe both end up being worse, no one really knows and we know is what each actually did.

2) you are clearly biased. Not an accusation, just a fact. Everyone has biases it’s just the way it goes…in this case, you are biased in Kopitars favour. I voted Bergeron for both and was going to say I’m not biased due to not being a fan or hater of either team or player, but perhaps I’m biased a bit due to recency with another Selke win and retirement. What I can say is there is not a ton of separation between the two.


Didn’t or hasn’t turned out as you expected so far….looks to be pretty even split

There must be some sort of confusion with how OP worded the question and gave 4 option when he should have gave 2

Mixed with lots of kings fans or Boston haters

 

[Midnight Judges]

We're ranking overall careers, no? Maybe at his best Kopitar was quite good defensively, but for career:

Bergeron has 6 Selkes, 12 straight top 3 finishes and 14x in the top 5
Kopitar has 2 Selkes, 5x top 5, 6x top 5

Without digging too deep into defensive stats - this seems like a pretty big defensive edge to Bergeron. Unless you think Kopitar didn't get enough selke recognition, or that Bergeron's was unwarranted.

I agree on Kopitar having an edge offensively.

I think we should dig deep into the defensive stats. It's possible Kopitar didn't get enough Selke recognition.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Better player: honestly, they are almost Equal IMO but I went with Kopitar

Better carreer: Bergeron, clearly IMO

 

[Fear]

Kopitar's offense is a little overrated because of his amazing season in 2017-2018, but he never really hit those numbers on a consistent basis.

 

[norrisnick]

Kopitar's offense is a little overrated because of his amazing season in 2017-2018, but he never really hit those numbers on a consistent basis.

It's a good thing Kopitar doesn't have to hit 90+ regularly to be significantly stronger offensively than Bergeron.

Bergeron has led the Bruins in scoring 5 times in his career hitting 70+ points 3 times.
Kopitar has led the Kings in scoring 15 times in his career hitting 70+ points 8 times.

 

[Ghetty Green]

If Kopitar played in the East he would be winning this by a landslide

Imagine if Kopitar was born in Ontario and played his entire career in the East ?

 

[AvroArrow]

I don't see how that makes sense. Bergeron has been the clear #1 defensive center of his generation. Traditional stats, advanced metrics, voting, trophy wins backs that up. Kopitar has had some down years in his own end while Bergeron has been excellent for an unprecedented number of years in a row.

I don't disagree with that, but the gap between his defensive ability and Kopitar's is very minimal. Whereas the offensive gap is visible.

But honestly I won't argue against anyone voting Bergy, I think it's extremely close. That's just how I personally view it.

If we're looking at hardware, yeah it's Bergy easily with all the Selkes. I'm just trying to compare them in terms of their abilities/capabilities whatever you wanna call it.